SEER-EE-OUS-LY?

Of course, this video's not quite as good as watching my sweet Ellie WALKING, but it's close.

If this wasn't such an important topic and decision, I'd actually laugh. I can only hope that other "US Americans" will laugh their way to the voting box. Because SERIOUSLY. Seriously. If this woman ever becomes president, she'll make Dubya look like a Nobel Prize Winner in Articulation, Sentence Structure, and Sensibility.




Edited to add: Oooh, ooh, I gotta post another one (there's so many to choose from!)! Richie and I have been sitting her laughing our butts off at these videos. As Richie just commented, "Man, they can pretty much fire the SNL writing staff...Palin's giving them material for months!"

Food for thought: I just realized that ELLIE has had a passport longer than Sarah Palin. Wow.



AND, because I am having such a good time laughing at some of these political You Tube videos, and I don't want to completely tick off my Republican readers (although, again, SERIOUSLY?!), here's one of Joe Biden being a crazy dude. I guess we just really have to hope that no matter who becomes president, he DOESN'T DIE during his term!

MY Girl!

Look at my baby GO!!!



I know it's petty, but there's a part of me that wants to find the email address of the evil therapist who said, "She'll never walk, even with a walker, you know..." and send her this video. Because, really, LOOK AT MY GIRL WALKING!

Now, of course I realize that we still have some major issues. Ellie's legs still cross a lot when she walks (the reason for her therapist's hand in between them, separating them after every other step). She definitely needs some hip support (her home walker is actually being worked on right now, as they are adding a hip stabilizer to it. We go for a fitting on Friday). But, look at her feet! Look at her rhythm! It's like the light bulb went off and she GOT IT! Three years of practice, but she GOT IT.

I am just SO PROUD. When I see how hard she works and how determined she is, I get all blubbery. That's MY girl. I just know she's going to do great, great things. That's MY girl. And, when I watch this video, I really really really feel hopeful that Ellie's gonna walk. Even if it's with a walker, I BELIEVE she's gonna walk.

And did I mention THAT'S MY GIRL?!

Things

I’m worried that this post will end up sounding really judgmental. It’s not. I promise.

I’m really posting to MYSELF today, because, man, do I need a soul-check.
So, let’s talk about materialism. Greed. Consumption. Prosperity. Economic Desire.

Turn on the TV, open the paper, hang out around the water cooler at work (does that actually happen? Maybe our water cooler is in a weird place, but I would find it extremely awkward to huddle around it and chit-chat with 10 co-workers), and you’ll hear talk of the economy. The failing, desperate, dire economy. The “I’ll have to start renting out my fourth bedroom” and “We’ll be eating a lot of cabbage borscht” economy.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m worried about the North American economy too. I cringe every time I see the American dollar lose ground (since Richie is paid in USD’s). My heart hurts when I hear about another family forced to foreclose on their modest house because Mom and Dad’s jobs at GM have been slashed.

All this economic worry has got me thinking about NEEDS versus WANTS, and how very skewed our perceptions have become.

When I hear about the US dollar tumbling, my heart sinks because we should probably WAIT to build up the living room and put hardwood floor down. My shoulders slouch because I realize that we should probably scrap our eating out during the weekend. My mouth frowns because I come to the conclusion that I should probably sell my Gymbucks on Ebay, rather than use them to buy Ellie more (precious and oh-so-cute) clothes.

Hardwood floor. Applebee’s. Smocked toddler dresses. Needs or wants? Hmmm.

I feel like I’m getting swallowed up by this consumer culture we live in. I realize this is no excuse, and I’m not going to blame society for my problems. I’M the one that needs to get control of my heart, my desires, and make sure that they’re aligned with God’s.

I’m in my (VERY VERY EARLY) thirties now. Most of my friends are married. We’re establishing good careers. We’re settling down, buying real estate. It’s amazing how, as I get older and supposedly more mature, I become more consumed with competition. I want new flooring so that when my friends come over, they’ll say, “This is sooo nice, Chrystie!” and I’ll be able to denote a bit of jealousy in their praise. Because nothing’s better than being envied. Especially when you live your life in constant paranoia of being pitied.

I hate the competition. I hate that I’m succumbing to it. I hate that I care about the size of my house. I hate that I’m concerned with the newness of my car.

I hate that while I’m worried about a stock market crash because of what it’ll mean to the state of my living room floor, there are people who are wondering where their next meal will come from.

There. THAT’S the meat of it. Literally. I am so consumed with material things, with MY material things, that I completely forget that people are DYING for 1/millionth of what I have.

Surely this can’t be the way God intended us to live. Surely my quest towards being Christ-like should lead me away from material competition. Surely.

The “powers that be” in the economic and journalistic world claim that the catalyst to the current economic crisis is the mortgage catastrophe. What happened? Generally, people bought homes that were more expensive than they could afford. Why? Because our measure of worth is linked to the THINGS we have.

A few weeks ago, I eavesdropped on a conversation between two of my high school youth group guys. The “older and wiser” sophomore was giving advice to the lowly freshman, telling him which courses he should take his first year of senior high. He said, “You gotta do whatever it takes to get a good job. Because if you’re workin’ at the Shell Station all your life, you’ll never be able to afford a decent car, or even be able to buy a Wii.” No joke. Had the irony not overtaken me, I would have laughed out loud. Happiness is all about the Wii. And the games for the Wii. And the car that drives you to the store to buy the games. And the house where the Wii will sit. And this from the mouths (and heads) of 15-year-olds.

I wonder if Gowriamma cleans crap up every day in hopes of saving up enough money for a Wii?

“Gowriamma, Narayanamma, Renuka—her name varies from place to place but it always places her as a member of one of the groups in India traditionally known as ‘untouchable’ because of what they do. Gowriamma might be 25, 35, 45—she is never sure. But from the age of 13 onwards, she has cleaned excrement relentlessly from 6:00am to 10:00am every morning.

The stench is nauseating, overpowering. These ‘dry latrines’ or public defecation facilities are enclosed spaces with long, open, shallow drains. There are raised foot rests for users to position themselves. They then squat and do their business. Gowriamma’s job is to empty the drain.




First, she sweeps the shit into piles. Then, using two flat pieces of tin, she scoops it up and drops it into a bamboo basket which she carries to a spot where a tractor will arrive to pick it up. No gloves. No water. She always hitches up her sari tightly so that it does not trail on the ground. Nevertheless, it is almost impossible to go through a day’s work without some of the shit inadvertently splashing on to her clothes and person.”
(“A Lifetime of Muck” by Mari Marcel Thekaekara, published in the New Internationalist, August 2008)

What has happened to us (okay, ME) that we can completely close our eyes to the extreme poverty of MILLIONS of people? People who could care less about the Dow Jones or the TSX. People who just want to EAT. People who just want shelter over their HEADS, never mind something pretty and soft to walk on. People who scoop up feces for a “living” (can that REALLY be categorized as “living”?).

I just wish I knew how to combat it better. And by “it”, I mean the demons of materialism and greed that invade my thoughts and desires on a daily basis. By “it”, I mean the spirit of competition that drives me to want MORE and BETTER than my friends.

I feel a bit defeated when I think of our society as a whole. What can *I* do to help Gowriamma? What can *I* do to help millions of North Americans realize that they (I) have SO MUCH MORE than most of the world could even dream of. What can *I* do to encourage North Americans to live within their (my) means?

Model the behavior, I guess. Remind myself, whenever I start slipping into the grips of the “I NEED that” mentality, that a 13-year old in India is contracting a disease RIGHT NOW, because she is scraping up crap with her bare hands. Blog about it. Stop people (myself) mid-sentence when they start throwing a “look at me, I’m so poor” pity party.

Wait on my hardwood floors.

And feel blessed. Because we ARE so, so, so blessed. UNDESERVEDLY blessed. I had nothing to do with being born with white skin, in Canada, to parents who could afford food, a roof, and my education. When I watch the news tonight, amidst the stories of economic doom and gloom, I will focus on being undeservedly blessed.

Or, maybe I just won’t watch news at all.

Need Some Popcorn?

I figured it was time for a movie!

Here's sweet Ellie swinging on the tire, saying hi to her Southern Grandma in 'Bama. Two things to take note of in this video:

1) She's talking SO MUCH more! She's really starting to string little 3 and 4-word sentences together, which is HUGE. She repeats nearly everything we say, which means that we actually have to be polite in the house.

2) Ellie's balance has improved a lot! A year ago, she wouldn't have been able to sit on a tire swing, because she would have fallen over. Now, she's quite comfortable in this position. Yay!

Must. Succumb.

I'm breaking down. In a bad way. You probably don't believe this, given some of my recent posts, but I've tried REALLY REALLY hard to keep my political mouth shut on this here blog. When I *have* opened it, I've tried to stick to the issue at hand, or more accurately, the issue at heart.

Yet, as this US Presidential campaign increases in intensity, I can't take it any longer. I fold.

I simply must blog about my sincere distrust and disgust of the Republican campaign. I am so fearful of a McCain/Palin victory, that I've noticed my heart palpitating when the scary thought crosses my mind.

So, today, since I'm really busy and won't have the time to articulate a post of my own, I am going to steal the words of Washington Post reporter, Ruth Marcus. Thanks Ruth. The campaign LIES and propaganda are starting to make me throw up in my mouth.

I thought that Ruth's article was relatively non-partisan. She's calling it as she sees it. I can only hope that the rest of y'all are seeing it.

True Whoppers
By Ruth Marcus Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Washington Post

Economists are not generally known for their lyrical phrasing. But the other day, one told me something about the election that has stuck with me: He cautioned against succumbing to the "symmetry of sin."

This unexpected snippet of political poetry, from a Democrat advising Barack Obama, was prompted by my expressed desire to hold both campaigns accountable for their lapses from good policy and honest argument. At which point my eloquent economist invoked the lure of false symmetry.

He was peddling a self-interested, but important, point: All campaigns fall short, but some fall far shorter than others. And it is a phony evenhandedness, comfortable for journalists but ultimately misleading, that equates these failures without measuring the grossness of their deviation from the standard of decency.

In the 2008 race, and especially in the past few weeks, the imbalance has become unnervingly stark. Ideological differences aside, John McCain's campaign has been more dishonest, more unfair, more -- to use a word that resonates with McCain -- dishonorable than Barack Obama's.
Both candidates are guilty of playing trivial pursuit in a serious season, campaigning from gotcha to gotcha. Obama also has eagerly taken every cheap shot -- McCain wants to stay in Iraq for 100 years, doesn't get the economy, can't count his own houses. Neither candidate is running the honest, confront-the-hard-questions campaign he promised.

McCain's transgressions, though, are of a different magnitude. His whoppers are bigger; there are more of them. He -- the easy out would be to say "his campaign" -- has been misleading, and at times has outright lied, about his opponent. He has misrepresented -- that's the charitable verb -- his vice presidential nominee's record. Called on these fouls, he has denied and repeated them.

The most outrageous of McCain's distortions involve Obama on taxes. He asserts that Obama's new taxes could "break your family budget," and that an Obama presidency would inflict "painful tax increases on working American families." Hardly. Obama would lower taxes for most households, and lower them more than McCain would. The only "painful tax increases on working American families" would be on working families making more than $250,000.

Likewise, the McCain campaign has its story about Sarah Palin, and it's sticking with it -- facts be damned. She said "thanks but no thanks" to that "Bridge to Nowhere," except that she didn't: She backed the bridge until it was unpopular, then scooped up the money and used it for other projects. More than a year after McCain began railing against the bridge, Palin, then a gubernatorial candidate, said the state should build it "now -- while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

Palin sold the gubernatorial jet, on eBay and for a profit -- except that she didn't. She didn't take earmarks as governor -- except for the $256 million she sought last year, and the $197 million wish list for 2008.

Every hard-fought campaign is in some sense a struggle between the id of political consultants driving for a victory and the superego of policy types who worry about having to govern with the consequences of campaign rhetoric. Every campaign calls on the candidate to calibrate, at some point, how far he is willing to go in pursuit of the prize.

No candidate has felt this tension so keenly, or written about it as movingly, as McCain. In his memoir "Worth the Fighting For," McCain describes the sickening sensation of renouncing his views about the Confederate flag to curry favor with South Carolina voters in 2000 -- "reading it as if I were making a hostage statement."

He wrote that his "theatrics" were designed to "telegraph reporters that . . . political imperatives required a little evasiveness on my part. I wanted them to think me still an honest man, who simply had to cut a corner a little here and there so that I could go on to be an honest president."
Sitting on the couch with the women of "The View" last week, McCain offered a litany of excuses for his conduct this time around: Obama's ads are hard-hitting, too. The tone wouldn't be so negative if Obama had agreed to more debates. McCain's own lipstick comment was different because he was referring to health care.

You had to wonder: Are there any corners left for McCain? Is there any reason to trust that a man running this campaign would go on to be an honest president?

Tools and Hammocks

Have you noticed that when I run out of time or energy, yet still feel compelled to blog, I just shower the post with pictures? Yup. You're onto me.

But, how could you not want to see this sweet face over and over again?!

Daddy's Little Helper, complete with safety goggles. Oh yes, Richie is a stickler.




Testing out Grandma's new play structure. It passes!

I Believe

See that knife? The one with the emotional blood still dripping from the blade? That's the one that was just pulled out of my heart.

Today I was called an unbeliever. A non-Christian. A person who doesn't love Jesus.

Stab, stab, stab.

I didn't think that these accusations, from the cyber mouth of a stranger, could hurt so much. I so badly want to emulate Jesus, to radiate because of what He's done for me, to be faithful in my actions and words.

Oh, there are countless times where I've failed miserably in my Light-Shining pursuit. I've said hurtful things, I've lied, I've cheated, I've blown up. I wish I could take these moments back and change the words coming out of my far-too-open mouth. I've pleaded for God's forgiveness, and for some amazing reason, He's obliged....a million fold.

Yet, today, my love for Jesus has been questioned not because of a mistake, but because of my political beliefs.

Apparently, I don't love Jesus because I support Barack Obama.

I was told today that there is no way that a Christian, someone who truly, fully and all-bountifully loves God, could vote for Obama.

Wow.

As much as it pains me to admit, this stranger aimed directly for my heart, and punctured it well. Because I truly, fully and all-bountifully love God. I envelope myself in God's grace and mercy every day. I bask in His faithfulness and stand upright only because of the strength He gives.

And I really like Barack Obama and would vote for him in a heartbeat.

My bleeding heart won't allow me to post the link to the blog where these comments are made. I can't promote such hurtful words. I know that I should be responding to her, but I need an injury time-out before I jump back onto the field. I actually cried when I read the comments. I don't cry often.

It all started because of a comment I made regarding a propaganda You Tube video which has been spread around the internet. The video falsely accuses Barack Obama of supporting late-term abortions. It is one-sided and much to my chagrin, some people have decided that a You Tube video is gospel truth.

Of course, in the spirit of a good political debate, I'm always eager to give my Democratic two cents worth (okay, often five cents worth). I explained that I am pro EVERY life, and that even though Obama is a supporter of Roe v. Wade (but does NOT, in any way, shape or form, support infanticide), his belief in universal healthcare and bringing the troops home from Iraq, means that these policies will save countless lives. When Joe Blow can afford to see a doctor, his cancer can be caught early and he can survive. A life saved. When Soldier Sally is home in Wisconsin, far from road-side bombs, she can survive. A life saved. So, although in different ways, BOTH Obama and McCain can be categorized as pro-lifers.

The response to these comments? I am an unbeliever because I support Barack Obama.

I've been thinking about the politics of life, both born and unborn, a lot in the past couple of days. Today, in a Providential coincidence, I came across a wonderfully thought-provoking article at work (oh, the joys of working in a library!). I felt reassured by my candidate.

"I have repeatedly said that I think it's entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother." Barack Obama, July 2008 Relevant Magazine

Don't worry. I realize that Obama is still a supporter of Roe v. Wade. I realize that Roe v. Wade allows for legal abortions. I realize that many of you rock-star readers are pro-life and would love to see the law repealed. I am also pro-life. I would also, if asked out-right, say that I disagree with Roe v. Wade.

But.

And there is a HUGE but.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Barack Obama in that the best way to eliminate abortion has nothing to do with gavels. It has everything to do with love. It has everything to do with a support system. It has everything to do with building up a woman's self worth. It has everything to do with access to social programs. Tony Campolo says it best (italics in brackets are mine):

"Seventy percent of abortions in this country are presently driven by economic forces. You have an 18-year-old woman who works at Wal-Mart at minimum wage--she has no hospitalization, she has no opportunity for for maternity leave, she has no access to daycare when the baby is born, she's in dire straights. If you're going to be pro-life, you cannot only be concerned about the unborn; you have to be concerned about after they're born. Are we going to have universal health care so that she doesn't have to worry about paying her hospital bill? (Barack Obama's healthcare plan includes medical accessibility for EVERY AMERICAN.) Are we going to raise minimum wage, because presently that woman cannot pay for her rent, let alone take care of herself and a child? (McCain has continuously voted against raising the minimum wage.) Are we going to provide daycare for her so she can continue to be employed? (Sarah Palin, as governor of Alaska, cut funding to pregnancy crisis centers that provided, among many other things, affordable daycare options to teen mothers.) Are you willing to give her maternity leave so that she doesn't have to lose her job or have an abortion? (Obama supports the extension of the Family Medical Leave Act as part of a support system to mothers, fathers and families of babies.)"

Maybe, just maybe, it's not so black-and-white. Maybe, just maybe I support Barack Obama BECAUSE I serve a loving God Who created all life. Maybe, just maybe, I love Jesus AND really like Mr. Obama.

Honestly, this has been a really difficult post for me to write. I am at the verge of tears as I plunk away at my keyboard. You all know where I stand politically. I probably know where YOU stand politically. But, to question my love for Jesus? That's where things become personal and where my Issues-Only armor turns soft. That's where my feelings get really, really hurt.

I want to see lives saved. I want to see every baby live. I want every person on earth to die in their sleep, while dreaming of Peyton Manning or Rhubarb upside-down cake, at the very ripe age of 104. However, since I know this is not the world in which we live, then I want second best: I want girls to know that, if they find themselves face-to-face with a very unwanted positive pregnancy test, they have somewhere to turn. I want women to know that society, as reflected in government and funding, will give them an opportunity to make a decent life for themselves and their unborn child. Isn't that a Jesus-attitude?

I believe. In social support structures. In daycare funding. In pregnancy shelters. In universal healthcare. In paying people a fair wage. In a mat leave longer than 6 weeks. In Obama.

Most of all, though, I am a BELIEVER. In the One who gives me strength.

In All Ways...

God is faithful.

There is not a doubt in my mind that He is faithful. To the core. In every way. Beyond what our human minds can fathom.

But, what does God's faithfulness look like?

I work at a small Christian college. I love it there. We have staff prayer meetings every Wednesday. We pray for each other, for students, and for the school as a whole. It warms my heart to walk down to the staff room mid-week, in anticipation of meeting God with my colleagues. Last week, the financial staff presented their year-end report, filled with good news of surpluses and donations-a-plenty (that should be the name of a church carnival ride!). The comment was made:

"God has been faithful. He has answered our prayers and we've met our budget."

Would God have been UNfaithful had the last pig-farming alumnus not sold 300 sow at auction, and donated 10% of the profits to the school, buoying us into the black?

I struggle with the constant connection of God's faithfulness to solely good things. Because the alternative means that God is UNfaithful in the bad things.

Of course, this is a very real contemplation in my ever-rambling mind. Every fiber of my being needs to believe that God was faithful when my waters broke at 33 weeks. Every part of my soul needs to trust that God was faithful during those seconds that Ellie was having her stroke. Every last inch of my heart needs to hold to the promise that God was faithful when He decided that I should be Ellie's mom.

Of course, we should be all-consumed with gratitude when God's faithfulness is showcased in the good things.

He HAS been faithful in providing donors to our school.

He HAS been faithful in opening every possible door for Richie, Ellie and I to move to the *right* place at the *right* time (just a little plug to inform you that I'm over my "grass is greener" syndrome from last post!).

He HAS been faithful in leading us to amazing doctors and therapists and daycare providers and babysitters, who have all contributed to Ellie's overall awesomeness.

I am so very thankful that God is faithful in the happy things and the gratitude and joy I feel when I praise Him for the good is what carries me through the bad.

But, His faithfulness is so much deeper, wider and more profound than to be confined to the good times. I don't for one second think that God orchestrates the bad (that topic needs a post on its own!), but I unabashedly believe that His faithfulness then endures. He is faithful when I ask Him why He's not. He is faithful when I feel He's turned His back. He is faithful when I want nothing to do with His faithfulness.

I'd love to see a terminology revolution. I'm not talking about the stupidness of "The Artist Formally Known As Prince" or the garbage collector changing her title to "Sanitation Engineer". I'm talking about saying something like this:

God is faithful. We haven't met our budget, and a part of me feels as though our prayers weren't answered. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL.

God is faithful. I don't know why He allowed Ellie's brain to bleed, and it hurts my heart every time I think of it. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL.

"He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God Who does no wrong, upright and just is He."
Deuteronomy 32:4

Roll Tide Roll

I'm busy.

I'm a bit stressed.

I'm a tad bummed.

It's the first week of school, and when you work in academia, that's a big deal. I am crazily excited to meet the new college students and get to know them better, but the first few days of a new year and routine are always a bit nervy.

This has also been the first weekend in a long time that my heart has missed Texas/Bama/USA to the point of hurting. I miss our friends. I miss Target. And I sorely miss football.

We hung our 'Bama flag beside the garage on Saturday, in preparation for the big season opener. Our neighbors asked, "What kind of weird flag is that? Is there an elephant on there? Are you opening up a safari?"

Sigh.

It'd be nice not to have to explain what "Roll Tide" means. It'd be nice to have other Alabama fans over for the game. It'd be nice to order Sonic number one burgers (hold the onions, but extra tomatoes) while yelling, "Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer!" at the TV. It'd be nice to rip into Target at 9:55pm for kettle chips.

The highlight of my day today was SUPPOSED to be the Tennessee/UCLA game on prime time this evening. The problem? It's on ESPN. We don't get ESPN in Canada. So, now I'm stuck watching 90210 reruns while refreshing the football score on my laptop every five minutes.

Sigh.

It'd be nice to run away. To friends. To family. To less stressful jobs. To where every cable company offers a College Football package. To where the grass is always greener.

BUT, if I ran every time that life was a little blah, I'd go through a LOT of sneakers. And if my grass was always green, I'd forget how much watering it took to get it there.

And, Ellie now knows how to say, "Go Bama!" so I will watch the game next week with my bestest cheerleader and the number one most handsome fan. And it'll be good.

Workin' Out

Well, of course ELLIE'S version of a good work-out is goin' to visit her occupational and physical therapists at Children's Hospital.

I would just like to say that PT's and OT's are amazing people. At least ours are. I can't believe how much they know, and the cool "play therapy" things they come up with. Ellie doesn't even REALIZE she's being worked!






Okay, so not at Children's Hospital, but apparently Ellie and Grandma do some weight lifting every Thursday while Richie and I are working!